Established in 2014, Mars Rover Manipal, the official Mars Rover Design Team of Manipal Institute of Technology, is a multidisciplinary student-run robotics and AI research team based at Manipal Institute of Technology, Karnataka, India. The team develops state-of-the-art prototype Mars Rovers to compete in prestigious international robotics competitions and also publishes its cutting-edge research work in eminent journals and conferences.

The team annually competes in the University Rover Challenge (Mars Society), European Rover Challenge (European Space Foundation), International Rover Challenge, and International Rover Design Challenge (Space Robotics Society).

The rover is engineered with optimised wheels, suspension, and chassis for off-road terrain, and features a ruggedised 6-DOF manipulator alongside an automated soil collection and chemical analysis module. The rover is controlled via STM32 CAN-based microcontrollers. Manipulator positioning uses inverse kinematics with PID control, while stereo cameras, LiDAR, GPS, and IMU enable visual odometry, obstacle avoidance, and waypoint navigation.

Designed and fabricated a novel 6-wheeled suspension system with enhanced traversal capabilities for off-road terrain, based on a 5-bar mechanism that is constrained using preload-adjustable torsion springs.

Manufactured the prototype rover using 3D printing, conventional machining, CNC machining, Wire EDM, Laser cutting, and TIG welding.

Designed and prototyped a low-backlash self-locking worm-drive gearbox with an Oldham coupling output to account for shaft eccentricity.

Designed a 6-DOF articulated robotic manipulator with worm gear and belt-driven revolute joints. The end effector features a bevel gear differential and a lead screw-based gripper

As the team lead:

• I headed a 49-member multidisciplinary team across 6 subdivisions, competing in 7 international events and conducting 9 research projects.

• Managed a $38 k budget and secured an additional $9.5 k in sponsorships.

• Led industry collaborations with STMicroelectronics (custom motor drivers / PCBs) and Janyu Technologies (off-road UGV, demoed at Indian Army UGV Experiment 2021).

• Liaised with university administration to enable team operations and logistics.

• Launched outreach initiatives — Inception-MRM (startup innovation podcast) and STEM & Space (educational series on space and STEM).

Competitive Results